Hourglass Escapeshttps://hourglassescapes.com
Escape Reality With Us!Mon, 07 May 2018 02:33:43 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.6Good Prop Bad Prophttps://hourglassescapes.com/good-prop-bad-prop/
Tue, 17 Apr 2018 22:23:48 +0000https://hourglassescapes.com/?p=2709Good Prop Bad Prop An Escape Room cliche we can do without. There is nothing worse than being in an Escape Room and dealing with a broken prop. You spend your time trying to solve a puzzle and you find out that you had the answer for 5 min but because the item or lock is broken you wasted time, gained […]

There is nothing worse than being in anEscape Room and dealing with a broken prop. You spend your time trying to solve a puzzle and you find out that you had the answer for 5 min but because the item or lock is broken you wasted time, gained frustration and just lost your Mojo. Now, as an owner of an escape room I will tell you that props can break, and its nobody’s fault. But when the same prop repeatedly breaks that is when the alarm bells should go off and a new prop needs to be created or procured , or the existing one reinforced.

So lets examine what makes a good prop first

Works properly and moving parts move easily

All electronics work if it has them

Fits the game theme

Fits the time period of the story

Looks aged by time not by the hands of thousands of players…Especially during cold and flu season.

I know you’re wondering where I get my information and wondering who this Seth guy thinks he is to tell us about props. I began making props and creating masks for films in High School and worked in scenic shops, film, TV and theme parks in Orlandofor almost 10 years. I even was a manager at a scenic supply shop part time. My first big gig was making wax figures and props for Ripley’s believe it or not Museums world wide.

I learned very fast how to make durable wax figures and props since they were within arms reach. Then spent about 7 years at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure repairing the ride scenes,animation skins and props all thru the parks. I specialized in Kongfrontation and the MIB ride. I am even being featured in a new book on the Jaws ride. We had to repair any damaged prop before morning in our department, so I learned about durability first hand. After you repair the same rock 3 times in a month for months you start to figure out how to reinforce things. Everything we made had to withstand thousands of guests a week touching, kicking, sitting and sneezing on it without breaking or it would become a safety hazard.

What makes a bad prop

Broken prop

This includes faded designs needed to solve the puzzle

Out of place in theme and time

Example: A giant digital clock in an ancient setting is as bad as a Sundial in a space ship

The material feels and weighs off from what the item should be made from

We all made crayon drawings for mom, but it does not make us all artists

Not durable or loose parts that fall off

Missing parts

How to make a good prop? Its easy!

Hire an expert!

If you are not a prop maker then hire one. Its cheaper to hire an expert to build a prop that will last than to spend hours a month repairing a homemade prop.

The best skill you can have is to know your limits and be willing to hire an expert. I cant draw, so I hire a trained artist to draw anything I need. I also cant paint pictures, build websites, create decent ad content, break dance or publish a blog (That is why I have awesome people like Lindsay retyping this and publishing it on our website)

Example:If one prop breaks, then you have a replacement. But then you must create or buy another one in case that one breaks

We have a shelf filled with replacement parts,props and the molds to make more overnight if needed

Once a week have your employees do apunch listof what needs repair and refreshing

taking a few hours a week to repaint an old prop will make your players happy

If it is loose, tighten it!

Example: A weird thing happens when a prop has a loose part. People think it is supposed to move and will wiggle or pull at it till it breaks. Sometimes just as a nervous habit

If you repaint it, clean the surface first!

Clean off the finger prints and oil with a de-greaser like Simple Green before you paint something. Sometimes a light sanding helps

Clear coat everything that is painted, this will help keep the surface intact. Some use Crystal Clear , but I actually loveMod Poge for when i can use it. A few thin layers built up and let to dry overnight makes a great coating

If it is electronic have extra parts on hand or the number of a great electronic prop builder. If it breaks, you’ll want to fix it ASAP.

I recommend having a plug and play replacement

Make molds: Having the ability to make a replacement in less than an hour in an emergency helps. Smooth-on has great products and tutorials. This picture below is a mold for one of our items. We can pour resin and have a replacement in under 30 minutes

So in closing: Props will break…but we can be prepared to replace them between shows and be willing to make permanent repairs to avoid future damage.

]]>How to make a theme park style living windowhttps://hourglassescapes.com/how-to-make-realistic-theme-park-style-window/
https://hourglassescapes.com/how-to-make-realistic-theme-park-style-window/#commentsMon, 02 Apr 2018 22:56:15 +0000https://hourglassescapes.com/?p=2638The 'Pane' of making realistic windows in Escape Room Games Making the world outside your windows realistic can be a fun way to expand your escape rooms world. They set the scene, make the room feel bigger and can even make you seasick! This is our window in Tales of the Ghostly Galleon, which can actually induce sea sickness […]

The 'Pane' of making realistic windows in Escape Room Games

Making the world outside your windows realistic can be a fun way to expand your escape rooms world. They set the scene, make the room feel bigger and can even make you seasick!

This is our window in Tales of the Ghostly Galleon, which can actually induce sea sickness if you stare at it too long. Seriously, it can and people love it.

Here is how we did it and how any window can look amazing! There’s an urban legend that people got seasick in the movie theater watching Jaws; we loved the idea of having that much realism within our room. To be fair, I don’t want people getting sick all over the place, but the idea we could trigger a small physical response is kinda cool.

First let’s look at the reason some puzzle room video windows look fake.

The video is static, no natural motion to the world outside. ( if its indoors to an empty room no movement is needed)

How did we do ours? Well, I come from the film industry and learned practical FX starting out. We used some old set building and film tricks only seen live in theme parks like Universal studios where I used to work as an artist.

Here is our secret recipe:

We found a free stock video of the ocean with the right weather and sound. It had simulated condensation and water drips on the imaginary window, but we added a bit more as well.

Because a static shot of the ocean would look fake, we added motion to the camera in After-effects, which simulates being on a moving ship instead of feeling like a video.

We added a small sound bar at a low volume since the sound should feel like it’s from outside.

We used Aquanet hairspray on the inside of the window to give it a wet feel.

Because we made the window slightly smaller than the TV, the edges aren’t visible even when looked at closely.

Finally, we added crossbars to the frame for more dimension. This really added a lot.

But what if this was looking out on snow? Just add some fake frostinstead of rain drops to the inside of the Plexiglass. For a forest, setting the TV back a foot and having realistic branches between the glass and TV would make a world of difference. Making sure the TV is much bigger than the window is always important as well, or a fan to make the branches move subtly. For a sunny day, lights between the TV and real foliage would cast believable light patterns in the room.

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About

When not wearing a paper pirate hat and making silly faces, Seth Wolfson is the co-owner and creative director of Hourglass Escapes in Seattle. He has been in the film and theme park industry since 1989 and has worked for Universal Studios, Disney, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Wax Figure Shop, and more. His work is at makeupfxartist and you can hear him speak on art, make-up effects and escape rooms on the podcast Original Lines episode #5 or on an episode of “So you’re in Seattle” with Gregr and 107.7 The End. See his other blogs here. He is available for consultation on your next project by emailing him at info@hourglassescapes.com

]]>https://hourglassescapes.com/how-to-make-realistic-theme-park-style-window/feed/1How to Find an Escape Room Near Youhttps://hourglassescapes.com/how-to-find-an-escape-room-near-you/
https://hourglassescapes.com/how-to-find-an-escape-room-near-you/#commentsSun, 18 Feb 2018 01:46:28 +0000https://hourglassescapes.com/?p=2436How to Find an Escape Room Near You Now that you know what an escape room is, you’re probably asking Google for ‘escape room games’ and now you have plenty of choices! Honestly, maybe too many. Simply searching ‘escape rooms’ could lead you to our friends Crack the Code Escape Room in Virginia, or The […]

How to Find an Escape Room Near You

Now that you know what an escape room is, you’re probably asking Google for ‘escape room games’ and now you have plenty of choices! Honestly, maybe too many. Simply searching ‘escape rooms’ could lead you to our friends Crack the Code Escape Room in Virginia, or The Eureka Room in Bellingham. There are several things to consider when searching for escape rooms.

When looking for an escape room, the first thing to consider is capacity. How many people do you think will be in your party? Just you, or you and thirteen other people? Escape rooms for the most part have a designated maximum, usually for safety reasons, so consider that, but also keep in mind that most will also have a large quantity of things to do in a short amount of time. Some games scale the content to fit the group size!

With that information in mind, now it’s time to start Googling. Specificity is the simplest and easiest way to find nearby escape rooms. Instead of your ‘escape room’ search, try plugging in a city, or even adding ‘near me’. Searching ‘Seattle escape rooms near me’ will be much more fruitful for games you can actually visit.

You’ll see a lot of sponsored links in the top search results, before the actual company websites. But you will also be able to find their entries for Facebook, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, or Yelp, and those are a great way to judge the experience of players before you, as well as the personality of the company if they’ve responded to the reviews. Most often, good responses to bad reviews let you know the company understands where their clients are frustrated, and that they’re willing to work with them to solve the problems- if any- the client had.

These, along with the companies’ websites, will also give you an idea of the themes their rooms are based around. Whether it’s Egyptian mummies or ghostly pirates, through their location photos, their customers’ tags and their group pictures. The company’s website should be considered as well, for usability and ease of booking. If the website design is well-thought out and booking is clean and simple, the room may also be well-thought out. Disorganization and unprofessionalism is hard to cover up.

One final resource: escape room review sites! They may be niche, but escape rooms are quickly growing popular, and with popularity comes reviews. I love the Room Escape Artist blog and review site. David and Lisa are excellent reviewers and are a great resource for finding games that fit your preference. I also recommend the Escape Room Tips blog; William has a great scoring system for players both new and experienced.

To Recap:

Tailor your searches to specifics, like your city, or ‘near me’

Check review sites and blogs for previous players’ opinions, and how bad reviews were handled

Pick a room theme that you like

Explore the company’s website; disorganized or confusing content bodes poorly for their games

Don’t be afraid to email or call and leave a message!

It’s okay to ask for a special time or private game; they may say yes!

But what about the kids?

What if you can’t get a babysitter, or your kids are interested in coming with? Easy enough! Just search ‘family friendly escape room games’ to your google search and it will net you games that are great for kids ages 12 and up. As someone who’s run thousands of kids, adults and whole families through games, I’ll let you in on a little secret. I don’t want to shout, so come closer… closer… KIDS ARE GREAT AT ESCAPE GAMES! Our rooms are frequented by groups of 12-year-olds for birthday parties, and family-friendly games and are easy to run. Some kids need fewer clues, win more regularly, and win faster than all-adult teams. I do recommend contacting the company beforehand and asking if it’s age appropriate for your kids.

Why? I think it’s because as we get older, we gain more experience, but it also makes us jump to conclusions and think too outside the box, which leads to getting off track or making connections that aren’t necessarily feasible. Meanwhile, kids in school are taught to read, comprehend and then follow their directions to the letter, which gives them a very methodical, practical thought process. Kids also ask for help more frequently, which keeps them from getting stuck too long, like some adult groups do. Adults are great and may be better problem solvers for some things over others, but sometimes a fresh-faced whippersnapper just sees the answers we adults overlook.

Are kids better than adults in Puzzle room games? Probably not, but sometimes they are as Paula Swann describes on the Facebook group “Escape room enthusiasts”

Paula recounts her experience with this story “Last year when my son was 10, he kept trying to tell us that putting a bottle of water in front of a picture, changed the direction because he’d learned that in school (or from a book). I kept telling him he was wrong and to stop interrupting while we tried to solve this puzzle. The Game Master got so annoyed with me brushing him off that she put on the clue screen, “LISTEN TO THE KID!!” … My son has gotten a lot of use out of that quote for the past year!”

But the best reason to play escape games with your kids is that you will build some great memories with them. You may not win the game but you can’t lose if you involve your kids.

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About

When not wearing a paper pirate hat and making silly faces, Seth Wolfson is the co-owner and creative director of Hourglass Escapes in Seattle. He has been in the film and theme park industry since 1989 and has worked for Universal Studios, Disney, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Wax Figure Shop, and more. His work can be seen at makeupfxartist and you can hear him speak on art, make-up effects and escape rooms on the podcast Original Lines episode #5 or on an episode of “So you’re in Seattle” with Gregr and 107.7 The End. See his other blogs here.

]]>https://hourglassescapes.com/how-to-find-an-escape-room-near-you/feed/2Valentines Day Puzzle Box Of Chocolateshttps://hourglassescapes.com/valentines-day-puzzle-box-of-chocolates/
Mon, 05 Feb 2018 02:18:59 +0000https://hourglassescapes.com/?p=2277Valentine's Day Puzzle Box Of ChocolatesMake your personalized Valentine's puzzle box! Do you have a sweetie who loves puzzles? Or do they just like them a little bit but you want to make them work for that box of chocolates? Then I have the project for you! The first thing to make is the puzzle […]

Valentine's Day Puzzle Box Of Chocolates

Do you have a sweetie who loves puzzles? Or do they just like them a little bit but you want to make them work for that box of chocolates? Then I have the project for you!

The first thing to make is the puzzle portion, which will then be transferred to the puzzle box. Otherwise… it’s just a box.
For this project I want to make a puzzle that will take just a minute to solve. The three puzzles on the outside of the box will lead to the three numbers for the lock combination to open it. Below all the puzzles are reversed for easy transfer. Use a laser jet printer for the best transfers. Just right click and save the photos for your project.

Step 1: Print Puzzles

Print out the designs. Just right click the photo to save them and print on a laser printer for best results. Make sure the pictures are reversed so they transfer correctly.

Puzzle #1

A letter scramble, reversed so we can use Mod Podge to transfer the ink to the box. This unscrambles to say “THREE”.

Puzzle #2 Counting Six Roses

Puzzle #3 Counting 2 Arrows

Puzzle Key: (Reversed, to transfer with Mod Podge)

The final code will be 326.

Rebus Puzzle

Which translate to Eye Heart You. Again the image is reversed for transfer.

Step 2: Stain

Put on your safety goggles and gloves and stain the wood box. Use a foam brush to wipe on the stain, let it sit for about 30 seconds and then use a clean rag to wipe off the stain. Multiple coats, once the stain dries, will become darker. If the stain is left on the book, it will become sticky.

Step 3: Add the Transfers

When adding the transfers, make sure not to get too much Mod Podge over the split between the boxes or it will glue together. A strip of masking tape will prevent this from happening. I found some cool frames to print via Graphics Fairy (an amazing site for clip art). Print out the mirror image of the art you want to add on either an inkjet or toner printer. If you have an image you want to use, consider the direction you want it to face; you may have to flip it in a photo program like Photoshop or Paint.

Paint an even coating of matte Mod Podge on the area you want to lay the graphics and then use the roller to lay the graphic ink side down. Make sure to push out all the bubbles. I recommend practicing on some scrap wood to test your method first. Let the Mod Podge dry fully, around 24 hours. Rushing may cause the image to fail, but to speed up the process, you may also use a hair dryer. Use a damp sponge and rub off the paper but leave the ink. Take your time, this is a tricky process and takes practice and patience.

Step 4: Personal Touch

Add a photo of you and your sweetie- I just glued it on and coated it with our Mod Podge. This photo features Dr. Jebidiah Carter and his wife, Rhoda Camile Carter, from Rise of the Mad Pharaoh. I ran the photo through the Prisma app and used the “Hunter” filter to create an oil painting look. It’s a fun way to match the old style of the box art.

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About the Author

When not wearing a paper pirate hat and making silly faces, Seth Wolfson is the co-owner and creative director of Hourglass Escapes in Seattle. He has been in the film and theme park industry since 1989 and has worked for Universal Studios, Disney, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Wax Figure Shop, and more. His work can be seen at makeupfxartist and you can hear him speak on art, make-up effects and escape rooms on the podcast Original Lines episode #5 or on an episode of “So you’re in Seattle” with Gregr and 107.7 The End. See his other blogs here.

]]>How to Make an Escape Room Puzzle Boxhttps://hourglassescapes.com/make-escape-room-puzzle-box/
https://hourglassescapes.com/make-escape-room-puzzle-box/#commentsMon, 15 Jan 2018 19:44:11 +0000https://hourglassescapes.com/?p=2130The Book of Khepri Puzzle Box Today we'll look at a small prop box that can be made with just a few hours of working time, for less than $100. This type of simple puzzle box is similar to the props in our escape room Rise of The Mad Pharaoh. Materials Blank Wooden Book Gloss Mod […]

Today we'll look at a small prop box that can be made with just a few hours of working time, for less than $100. This type of simple puzzle box is similar to the props in our escape room Rise of The Mad Pharaoh.

Step 1:

Put on your safety goggles and gloves and stain the wood book. Use a foam brush to wipe on the stain, let it sit for about 30 seconds and then use a clean rag to wipe off the stain. Multiple coats, once the stain dries, will become darker. If the stain is left on the book, it will become sticky.

Step 2:

Block out where the Scarab will go, marking its position for later, and cut your decorative molding using the Miter box and saw. Once cut, sand any rough edges and coat lightly with the gold spray paint. Let it dry completely. Once dry, super glue it to the front and back edges of the stained wood box. I used two different types of molding to make the front and back a bit different.

Step 3:

On the underside of the scarab, trace a loose outline around your key. This will be the area you remove so that the key can slide in and out. With safety glasses on, use the Rotary tool and carve out the spot for the key. Please refer to safety instructions that come with the tool. **Never wear gloves with a rotary tool, it can catch and drag your finger or injure you.

Step 4:

Drill a hole in the box the right size for a threaded insert, where your scarab will lay. Mix your epoxy and glue the insert into the scarab, then let dry.

Step 5:

Print out the mirror image of the art you want to add on either an inkjet or toner printer. If you have an image you want to use, consider the direction you want it to face; you may have to flip it in a photo program like Photoshop or Paint. I used Egyptian clip art for this box. Paint an even coating of Matte Mod Podge on the area you want to lay the graphics and then use the roller to lay the graphic ink side down. Make sure to push out all the bubbles. I recommend practicing on some scrap wood to test your method first.

Step 6:

Let the Mod Podge dry fully, around 24 hours. Rushing may cause the image to fail, but to speed up the process, you may also use a hair dryer.

Step 7:

Use a damp sponge and rub off the paper but leave the ink. Take your time, this is a tricky process and takes practice and patience.

Step 8:

For the back side, print your choice of art or clipart on photo paper and glue it to the box with Mod Podge, both underneath the photo and over top. Let the Mod Podge dry, then mix your epoxy and coat the whole back side and let it sit overnight to cure fully. It will give it a shiny enamel look. The Mod Podge in this case acts as a barrier and helps stop the ink from bleeding.

Step 9:

Insert a screw and washer through the underside of the box lid so that you can screw it into the threaded insert that is glued into the Scarab. I also made a small stop out of a brass tack on the right of the scarab to prevent the hardware from coming unscrewed through use.

Step 10:

Screw the hasp and lock to the outside of the box, then fit the key inside the scarab. Notice in the second photo that when the scarab is upright the key slides down without hassle, and hits the stopper on the right.

Step 10.5:

SAFETY! Be safe and make sure the box has no sharp screws or edges, or any splinters or loose parts. Use the rotary tool to file down any long screws, and sandpaper to clean up rough edges.

Step 11:

Finish up any small decorations, such as the spine, gems or accents on the box with paint pens. A clear coat spray will protect it and prevent rubbing off or scratches.

Just turn the Scarab, slide out the key and unlock Khepri's ancient secrets!

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About the Author

When not wearing a Fez and making silly faces, Seth Wolfson is the co-owner and creative director of Hourglass Escapes in Seattle. He has been in the film and theme park industry since 1989 and has worked for Universal Studios, Disney, Ripley's Believe It or Not Wax Figure Shop, and more.
His work can be seen at www.makeupfxartist.com and you can hear him speak on art, make-up effects and escape rooms on the podcast Original Lines episode #5 or on an episode of "So you're in Seattle" with Gregr and 107.7 The End.